ESE Coffee Pods Versus Real Espresso

There are a wide range of ESE coffee pods, and many times you do get what you pay for. The crema thickness and the consistency of the espresso itself both depend on the brand of coffee pod. Personal taste will play the biggest role. Will you get that espresso you had on that rainy day in that one cafe last winter? Maybe, but you'll never know until you try. Buy the smallest quantities you can find at first because, even though coffee pods are known to have long expiration dates, there's no point wasting money on coffee you don't like.